Detection of medium-sized ground-dwelling mammals using infrared digital cameras: an alternative way forward?

Abstract

Infrared digital cameras were used to examine temporal detection rates of medium-sized ground-dwelling mammals in a coastal woodland landscape. From three successive deployments at fixed stations, a range of mammals was detected, including three target species: the long-nosed bandicoot, the long-nosed potoroo and the southern brown bandicoot. Reporting rates of target species were largely consistent and in some cases high. The swamp wallaby was the most commonly detected species, ranging from 47–67% of cameras on any given deployment. Long-nosed bandicoots were detected at 37–53% of cameras, long-nosed potoroos 13–23% and southern brown bandicoots 10–17%. In total, bandicoots and potoroos were detected at 23 of 30 sites (77%) while forage-diggings of these mammals were universally present. There were differences in the detection rate of bandicoots and potoroos in relation to 24-hourly cycles: all three species were less likely to be detected between dawn and dusk than dusk and dawn. Otherwise, with few exceptions, the rate at which bandicoots and potoroos were detected over time within a deployment did not vary markedly. Infrared digital cameras offer great potential as sampling devices for bandicoots and potoroos because of their greater detection efficiency relative to other techniques.